Liquid-level control



' Dec. 18,1928. 1,695,846

L. H. HARDING LIQUID LEVEL CONTROL Filed Sept. 21. 1926 INVENTORWad/56.36%? wma LULZZLQ ATTbRNEY Patented Dec. 18, 1 928.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

. LEONARD H. HARDING, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

LIQUID-LEVEL CONTROL.

Application filed September 21, 1926. Serial No. 136,782.

A further feature is in theprovision of 15 means adjustable on the rodand operative in a sealed casing, whereb a snap switch is positivelyactuated into eitl ier. of its operative positions, avoiding thepossibility of a partial or incomplete action.

Another aim is to enclose the rod, switch and actuating devices in suchmanner as to prevent it from being molested or tampered with.-

These and other minor advantages, which will become more fully evidentas the descrip tion proceeds; are accomplished by the construction,arrangement and combination of the few and simple parts hereinafterdescribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forminga materialpart of this disclosure, and in which Figure 1 is a generalsideelevational view of an embodiment of the invention as installed.

5 Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the upper part ofthe structure as assembled. v

In the drawing, the numeral 5 designates in general a conventional typeof tank, such for instance as is frequently used for fire protection ontop of buildings, but which ma also represent a. well or sump from whicit is required to draw off a portion of its liq- 'uid contents when thesame has reached a predetermined level.

Above the main portionof the tank or sump is a chamber 11 dividedusually by a flooring or partition 12, the liquid 13 obviously being inthe lower portion of the tank.

Fixed on the flooring 12 is the flange of a collar 14 having a set screwto .adjustably retain a tube 15, passing through the flooring anydesired distance into the tank and having fixed at its upper end a'casing comprised of two opposed like parts 16 and 17, their flangedmeeting edges having between them a gasket 18 held tightly by theclampinggscrews 19.

assin vertically through the casing side 16 is a ro 2O looselysurrounded by the guard tube 15 and extending into the tank 10.

Adjustably fixed on the lower portion of the red are collars 21 and 22,respectively upper and lower, and between the collars is .a tube 23forming the axis of a spherical float; 24 in which the tube ishermetically sealed.

The float rests on the liquid 13 and may be weighted as at 25 to enter asuitable distance into the li uid, the float and its tube being freelyslida le on the rod 20.

The upper portion of the rod is'slidably guided in the upper and lowerwalls of the casino through lubricated stuffing boxes 36 and 3 7,respectively upper and lower, set in the casing 16 and fixedly attachedto the rod is a spool 26 having annular flanges at its ends the lowernormally resting on a spacer sleeve 27 seated on the lower wall of thecasing; a similar spacer sleeve'28 encircling the rod above the spoollimiting its rise.

Fixed in the casing 17 is any one of the well known standard makes ofsnap switches 29 operated by a lever 30 disposed between the spoolflanges, this type of switch snapping from one position to the otherwhen the lever is moved past the center of its oscillation, having nodead center or neutral position, being positive at all times. i

Attached to theouter side of the casing 17 containing the switch, is ajunction box 31 having a cover 32 through which extend alead-in wire 33and outletwires respectively 34 and 35 encased in insulation colored soas to be readily distinguished.

In operation let it be assumed that the liquid in the tank has reached asta e requiring replenishing, as indicated-by t e views, the weightedfloat restin on the collar 22, drawingthe 'rod to its owermost positionand, by reason of the spool26 engaging the switch lever 30, throwing theswitch so that current may" be conducted to a motor driven supplypum notshown, a signal, or both as may be pre erred.

The pump upon by an electric current ing a the tank, causing the float24 to rise and upon or a watchman receivbeing started, either direct Ilower water signal, will begin to refill a contact of the float with theupper collar 21, indicating the high water level, will raise the rod 20and sleeve, carrying the switch lever past its center whereupon it willjusted cannot be tampered with injudicially or maliciously, renderingthe device essentially fool proof. I

As the operative parts are extremely simple, if a proper switch be usedand adjustments be correctly made the device may be depended upon tooperate indefinitelyand without lubrication, care or supervision.

Although the foregoing is descriptive of the preferred embodiment oftheinvention, it will be apparent that minor changes may be made in itsconstruction, without the exercise of invention or conflicting with thescope of the claims hereto appended.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is I 1. A liquid level control devicecomprising a casing, a height adjustable tube supporting the casing, arod passing through said casing and tube packings in said casing for thetube, a snap switch in said casing, said switch having an oscillatablecontrol lever, a flanged spool on said rod engaging said lever,adjustable stops on the lower exposed portion of said rod, a sleeveslidable on said rod to engage said stops and a float fixed intermediatethe length of said sleeve.

2. A float controlled electric switch comprising a sectional casing comosed of two equal portions united at their flanged edges and having agasket interposed therebetween, a junction box on the exterior of onesection, a snap switch fixed in said section, said switch having anoperatin lever extending into, the other section, a tu ular guard tubefixed in said casing, an adjustable support collar for said tube wherebysaid casing may be raised and lowered, a rod slidable through the lastnamed casing section, said rod being partially enclosed in said tubepackings in said casing for said rod a double flanged spool fixed onsaid rod within the last named section to engage the switch lever, meansin said casing to limit the movement of said spool in either direction,a weighted float movable on the extending portionoi said rod and stopsadjustable on said rod to control the movement of said float relativethereto.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 16th day of September, A. D. 1926. I

LEONARD H. HARDING.

